VIP Tires promotes Timothy Winkeler to president, COO

AUBURN, Maine — VIP Tires & Service has promoted Timothy Winkeler to president and chief operating officer, overseeing all of the dealership's operational functions, and said John Quirk will assume the roles of chairman and CEO.

Mr. Winkeler joined VIP in May 2010 as vice president of merchandising and was promoted to COO in 2013. He also has been appointed to the company's board of directors.

Mr. Quirk — who's been an owner of VIP Tires since 2001 — lauded the "tremendous enthusiasm and energy" that Mr. Winkeler has brought to his operational leadership role at VIP.

"He has led VIP's cultural transformation into a leading professional service organization and has inspired us all," he added. "In his new role, Tim will continue to shape all aspects of VIP's business."

Prior to joining VIP Tires, Mr. Winkeler held executive sales and engineering positions with Remy International Inc., where he worked for 11 years. Prior to that he spent seven years with Dana Corp. as an engineering and plant manager.

VIP is the fourth-largest retail tire dealership in New England, and is among the 20 largest in the U.S., based on number of outlets, according to Tire Business' annual rankings.

The dealership moved its headquarters this summer to Auburn from Lewiston, Maine, where it had been located for 30 years.

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